04/11/2020 | President
Addressing the Annual Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Athens today, PACE President Rik Daems commended the Greek presidency for its leadership during tough times and particularly welcomed the ongoing trialogue between the Assembly, the Secretary General and the...
03/11/2020 | President
PACE President Rik Daems strongly condemned yesterday’s terrorist attack in Vienna and on behalf of the Assembly expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the authorities and the people of Austria. “Yesterday’s attack in Austria, as the recent ones in France, are attacks...
03/11/2020 | Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
Recalling that the Assembly’s decisions should be based on clear and effective parliamentary rules, the Committee on Rules of Procedure has proposed to amend PACE’s Rules to reflect changes in parliamentary practice and to clarify procedures where their application or interpretation has raised...
03/11/2020 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
The National Museum of Secret Surveillance “House of Leaves” (Tirana, Albania) was yesterday awarded the Council of Europe’s Museum Prize at a ceremony in Tirana with the participation of the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and the Minister of Culture, Elva Margariti. The Diploma was...
03/11/2020 | Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs
In light of the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, PACE’s Rules Committee has proposed modifications to the Rules of Procedure to enable the Assembly to hold remote or hybrid plenary sessions in exceptional circumstances. Approving a report by Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC), the committee...
02/11/2020 | Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the situation of human rights defenders in Council of Europe member States, Alexandra Louis (France, ALDE), made the following statement on the occasion of the third anniversary of the pre-trial detention of...
01/11/2020 | Election observation
Fundamental freedoms respected in competitive Georgian elections, but allegations of pressure and blurring of line between party and state reduced confidence, international observers say Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected...
30/10/2020 | Culture, Science, Education and Media
“Attacks on journalists, in particular on those who investigate corruption and the abuse of power, are continuously on the rise,” said Stefan Schennach (Austria, SOC), General Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on media freedom and the protection of...
30/10/2020 | Political Affairs and Democracy
"In an already difficult context of the health crisis and now of lockdown, France has once again been struck by cowardly violence and a blind brutality that shatters lives and families. My thoughts and condolences go out to the relatives of the victims," said Marietta Karamanli (France, SOC...
29/10/2020 | Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation
“Missile strikes on civilian areas have to stop,” said Pierre-Alain Fridez (Switzerland, SOC), Chairperson of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons. “The strike on the Azeri town of Barda, reportedly killing 21, is a tragedy. So is the strike which reportedly hit a maternity...
26/10/2020 | Equality and Non-Discrimination
“Despite growing awareness of their situation, in 2020 intersex people continue to suffer in their daily lives and see their dreams frustrated as a consequence of unnecessary medical and surgical interventions, often practised on intersex infants and children without their consent,” said Fourat...
26/10/2020 | Parliamentary support
An “online video toolkit” and training resource on the current challenges and ways forward for public service media – based on a recent webinar for parliamentary staff from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia – is to be made available to parliamentary staff across Europe...